On September 25, Karen Balayan, president of the “Ayas” Marine Research Club and captain of the “Cilicia” sailboat, spoke at the History Museum of Armenia about one of the most interesting navigational devices in ancient times, the astrolabe. According to scientists, the astrolabe was invented by the ancient Greeks. Being actively involved in international trade, travelling by land and seas, Armenians have also shown interest in these devices.
One of the Armenian astrolabes, dating from the 17th–18th cc., was made of copper in Amsterdam and is now kept in the History Museum of Armenia. It was made by Ghukas Vanandetsi for Khoja Petros a merchant and shipowner from Julfa.